Michael Caputo told Fred Dicker this morning that the candidate will submit some 28,000 petition signatures to earn a place on the Republican primary ballot — almost twice as many as the required 15,000 but less than the 40,000 Paladino was anticipating five weeks ago. (Caputo didn’t recall that optimistic prediction.)

Paladino’s campaign manager said that the signatures come from every New York county and 21 congressional districts.

The candidate has until Aug. 17 to turn in the necessary number of signatures to land his new line, Taxpayers, on the ballot.

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